Bed footboard



June 26,1945. M. s. MEEM 2,379,369

BED FOOTBOARD Filed Feb. 10, 1945 Patented June 26, 1945 "UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICEQ 2,379,369 Y I BED Foo'rnoAap Marie S. Meem, Bethesda, Md. Application February 10, 1,945, Serial.No.,577,2.25 I (01. -321) 7 7 Claims.

This invention relates to beds and has particular reference to a footboard incorporating certain desirable utilitarian features without destroying the beauty, symmetry and cohesion of design which offers such appeal from anesthetic point of view.

Experience has shown that, with theexception of a persistent fondness of lovers ofperiod furniture for four posters, the most effective and p lype of bed for all phases ofmodern interior decoration embodies a low footboard of solid expanse extending across the entire foot of the bed. Such a footboardaffords numerous advantages from both the esthetic and the utilitarian viewpoints. Nevertheless, this type of footboard as heretofore designedand'constructed involves certain inherent disadvantages due to the very immobility and'integ-rity of form which to a great extent has been responsible for its popularity.

A low integral footboard provides no-support whatsoever for bedding which is thrown back from the bed, either as surplus or reserve covering, or when airing the bed. Bedding such as comforters, blankets, sheets, etc., when thrown back over'the conventional low footboard simply falls over upon the floor. This is extremely undesirable for many reasons.

My invention eliminates this difficulty and at the same time retains all the advantages, both ornamental and utilitarian, of the customary sins I gle-piece low footboard'.

The invention in its broadest phase embodies an integrated or composite footboard the constituent or component elements of which are so constructed and arranged that under appropriate circumstances, aswhere the bed is made up, not in active or contemplated use, and primarily intended to add to the esthetic effect of the room, itsappearance is that of a single board uninterrupted in contour or expanse and providing the visual effect of a-solid unit. However, the component elements may be manually separated with substantially no effort to form'the utilitarian posts of a four-poster bed. In effect the upper strata of the apparently'integral' foot,- board constitute posts which maybe swung upwardly to vertical position as a support for bed,- ding which must be draped thereover to prevent it from lying on-the floor. Furthermore, means, are provided for retaining'the posts so formed in vertical position against the substantial downward thrusts which develop when they perform this customary and utilitarian function. The

ciated with the composite units of theassembly that they are substantially invisible regardless of the relativeposition .of, the units. I,

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein certain embodiments of my invention have been, disclosed for illustrative, but by nomeans limiting, purposes:

Figural is a perspective showing the normal form of thefootboard; I

Fig. 2. is a partial perspective illustrating component elements of the compositeboard in spread position;

Fig, 3 is a partial perspective illustratingthe utilitarian function of the arrangementasshown in Fig, 2; I i

Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating one means of securingthe supporting arms invertiCalposition; v r

Fig. 5 is atop plan view, thereof;

Fig. 6 is a section along, 6.-6 of Fig.4;

, Fig, '7 is asection illustrating a somewhat mfodiifled form ofarmretaining means, and,

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view. of such modified form,

Essentially the composite board constituting the gist of thisinvention comprises a main board ill to each. end of the upper surface of which is pivoted, respectively, one end of arms 'I2 and I4. These 'armslag regate in length the length of the top marginal surface ofmainboard Ill so that when in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 the outer ends of the arms lie flush with the side wall of the main board and the inner or free ends of the arms arein abutting relation. For obvious reasons it is preferable to make each of the arms precisely one-half the length of the upper face of main board [0. The pivotal a rangement embodied in the invention, is suchthat the inner transverse faces of arms 12. and I4 may actually contact one another when in the normal position illustrated inf-Fig. 1. without jamming simultaneous upward swinging movement of'both arms.

While for purposes of illustration a generally rectangular footboard has been shown, it will be apparent that this extreme simplicity of design is not essential to the invention. The important factor insofar as'this phase of the invention is concerned, in addition to the relationship above described; is to so fashion the top marginal surface of the main board It and the under surfaces of the-arms I2 and I4 that the latter overlie and seat continuously upon the top marginal surface of the board. The result is an apparently means are so designed, constructed" and asso- 5 homogeneous integral board the constituent eles ments of which are to all intents and purposes indiscernible with the naked eye, thus retaining the simple and unostentatious harmony of line customarily created by the conventional low footboard. It will also be apparent that the upper or top surface of arms I2 and I4 may embody any desired contour ifsuch sturdy simplicity as is inherent in the form illustrated is not desired.

As hitherto indicated, the purpose of this construction is to permit elevating arms I2 and I4 about their pivotal points adjacent the ends of the top margin of the main board to a vertical position so that the covers or bedding may be thrown back over the tops thereof as a support to preclude their falling on the floor, as illustrated in Fig. 3. To effectively perform this function without risk of permitting. the arms to sag from the vertical in either an outward or an inward direction, means are provided for releasably securing the arms in substantially vertical position. Conforming to the basic concept of the invention, such means are inconspicuous and simple in construction, the former in order to retain insofar as possible the effect of a four poster when the arms have been elevated to vertical position and the latter to eliminate to as great an extent as possible any increase in cost and insure easy and effortless manipulation by the operator. To this end I have incorporated the restraining means substantially within the pivot assembly itself.

In the modification disclosed in Figs. 4-6, wherein arm I4 is shown in elevated position by full lines and in inoperative position in dotted lines, each arm is pivoted to the main board I by means of a hinge. One hinge plate I6 is countersunk in the bottom face of the arm adjacent the end thereof and the other plate I8 is similarly countersunk in the top surface of the main board I0 adjacent the end thereof. The two plates are hinged in conventional fashion upon a pivot pin 20.

A cavity 22 in the form of a substantial quadrant is provided within each end of main board III, the vertical wall of the cavity being recessed adjacent its upper end as indicated at 25 to receive the bearings of hinge plates I6 and I8 in such manner as to permit the countersinking of the plates I6 and I8 heretofore described. The under face of each arm is relieved somewhat at each hinged end, as indicated at 23, to facilitate swinging movement of the arm ends over the outer edges of the top surface of the board, which latter may be slightly beveled for that purpose.

The positioning of the hinge plates with reference to the arms and the main board is such that when the arms are in elevated position the extreme end of each arm constitutes a lip adapted to abut the end wall of the main board as indicated at 24, thus providing a positive stop limiting swinging movement of each arm outwardly beyond the vertical.

A link 26 is pivoted to a pin 28 positioned in a recess beneath hinge plate I6 and extends through a slot in the plate oversized with respect to the transverse dimension of the link 26, thereby permitting swinging movement of the link with reference to plate I6. Positioned across the cavity 22 below plate I8 is a pin 38 which is adapted to be engaged by something in the nature of a bayonet slot 32 adjacent the free end of link 26. The extreme free end of the link preferably terminates in a blunt nose 34 to facilitate sliding movement along the arcuate wall of cavity 22.

When arm I4, or arm I2, is elevated from the position illustrated in Fig. 1 to that illustrated in Fig. 2, the link is carried with the arm by means of its pivotal connection with pin 28 and slides across pin 38 until the latter engages slot 32, at which point the arm is in vertical position and is thus releasably retained in that position. Release is obtained simply by moving link 26 upwardly slightly withthe, finger, which frees it from positive engagement with pin 30 and permits downward swinging movement of the arm. The hinge plate I8 is apertured to receive link 26 during, its swinging movement.

In Figs. '7 and 8 a modified and somewhat simplified form of means for retaining the arms in substantially vertical position has been shown. In this embodiment the opposed inner faces of bearings 36 and 38 of hinge plate 40, designed for countersinking in the main board III, are provided with aligned notches or grooves 42 and 44 which extend at right angles to one another. The bearing 46 of hinge plate 48 designed to be secured to an arm I2 or I4 is provided with lugs 50 at each end. When the arm are in the position illustrated in Fig. l the lugs 50 engage opposed grooves 44 of the lower hinge plate bearing, and when in the vertical position illustrated in Fig. 2 these lugs engage opposed grooves 42. The yield between bearings 36 and 38 provided by bifurcation 52 in the hinge plate 40 is suflicient to permit ready egress of the lugs 50 from and ingress into the respective seats provided by the aligned grooves.

Various types of so-called frictional hinges might be used in lieu of the hinge construction illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, but this particular embodiment possesses the distinct advantage of providing positive restraining movement at each extreme of swinging movement.

Certain preferred embodiments of the invention having been illustrated and described in detail herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications and equivalent arrangements fall.- ing within the scope of the inventive concept may be apparent to those skilled in the art and for that reason I intend to limit myself only within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A composite footboard for a bed comprising, in combination, a main board, a pair of arms a8- gregating in length that of the upper margin of the board pivoted, respectively, at one end to the upper surface of the board adjacent the ends thereof and adapted to overlie and seat continuously upon the upper marginal surface of said bed with their free ends in abutting relation to thereby form with the main board a substantially continuous front, rear and top surfaced composite board, each arm being swingable upwardly about its respective pivot to a substantially vertical position, and releasable means for restraining each arm from movement away from the vertical when in that position.

2. A composite footboard for a bed comprising, in combination, a main board, a pair of arms aggregating in length that of the upper margin of the board pivoted, respectively, at one end to the upper surface of the board adjacent the ends thereof and adapted to overlie and seat continuously upon the upper marginal surface of said bed with their free ends in abutting relation to thereby form with the main board a substantially continuous front, rear and top surfaced composite board, each arm being swingable upwardly about its respective pivot to a substantially vertical position, and cooperating means carried by said arms and main board for releasably restraining each arm from movement away from the vertical when in that position.

3. A composite footboard for a bed comprising, in combination, a main board, a pair of arms aggregating in length that of the upper margin of the board and having under surfaces conforming to the upper marginal surface of said'board, one plate of a pair of hinges being countersunk, respectively, in the upper surface of said board adjacent the ends thereof to li flush with such surface, the other plate of each pair being similarly countersunk, respectively, in the under faces of said arms adjacent the ends thereof whereby the top. marginal faces of said board and the under faces of said arms are contiguous throughout their length when the latter are folded down on the board with the free ends of the arms in abutting relation.

4. A composite footboard for a bed comprising, in combination, a main board, a pair of arms aggregating in length that of the upper margin of the board and having under surfaces conforming to the upper marginal surface of said board, one plate of a pair of hinges being countersunk, respectively, in the upper surface of said board adjacent the ends thereof to lie flush with such surface, the other plate of each pair being similarly countersunk, respectively, in the under faces of said arms adjacent the ends thereof whereby the top marginal faces of said board and the under faces of said arms are contiguous throughout their length when the latter are folded down on the board with the free ends of the arms in abutting relation, and means for releasably securing said arms in vertical position.

5. A composite footboard for a bed comprising, in combination, a main board, a pair of arms aggr gating in length that of the upper margin of the board and having under surfaces conforming to the upper marginal surface of said board, one plate of a pair of hinges being countersunk, respectively, in the upper surface of said board adjacent the ends thereof to lie flush with such surface, the other plate of each pair being similarly countersunk, respectively, in the under faces of said arms adjacent the ends thereof whereby the top marginal faces of said board and the under faces of said arms are contiguous throughout their length when the latter are folded down on the board with the free ends of the arms in abutting relation, and means associated with each hinge for releasably securing its associated arm in vertical position,

6. A composite footboard for a bed comprising, in combination, a main board, a pair of arms aggregating in length that of the upper margin of the board and having under surfaces conforming to the upper marginal surface of said board, one plate of a pair of hinges beingcountersunk, respectively, in the upper surface of said board adjacent the ends thereof to lie flush with such surface, the other plate of each pair being similarly countersunk, respectively, in the under faces of said arms adjacent th ends thereof whereby the top marginal faces of said board and the under faces of said arms are contiguous throughout their length when the latter are folded down on the board with the free ends of the arms in abutting relation, and releasable means associated with each hinge for restraining its associated arm against inward movement.

'7. A composite footboard for a bed comprising,

in combination, a main board, a pair of arms aggregating in length that of the upper margin of the board and having under surfaces conforming to the upper marginal surface of said board, one plate of a pair of hinges being countersunk, respectively, in the upper surface of said board adjacent the ends thereof to lie flush with such surface, the other plat of each pair being similarly countersunk, respectively, in the under faces of said arms. adjacent the ends thereof whereby the top marginal faces of said board and the under faces of said arms are contiguous throughout their length when the latter are folded down on the board with the free ends of the arms in abutting relation, and releasable means associated with eachhinge for restraining its associated arm against inward movement, the pivotal axis of each hinge being so positioned with reference to the ends of theboard and the ends of the arms as to form of each arm end a lip engageable with the side of the board to prevent outward swinging movementbeyond the vertical.

MARIE S. MEEM. 

